Anabantidae

Ornate ctenopoma

Microctenopoma ansorgii

Black bars emerge during display

• Tropical
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• Africa
• Fusiform
• Small
• Tropical fish

Microctenopoma ansorgii is a small freshwater fish, known in the aquarium trade as the ornate ctenopoma, orange ctenopoma, ornate climbing perch, pretty ctenopoma, or rainbow ctenopoma. It is related to the more familiar spotted climbing perch (Ctenopoma acutirostre), but looks very different. Its body is more elongated and rounded, with fins with red and black stripes; the color intensifies when the fish are displaying, with black bars becoming visible on the body.